Regulations and Laws
Before planning your international move, contact your new location’s embassy or consulate to find out what you will need to relocate.
Familiarizing yourself with your new location’s rules and laws will help you get settled more quickly and efficiently.
You may have to obtain visas and permits and provide documentation such as birth certificates and marriage certificates.
If any family members’ passports will expire in the near future, apply for a renewal as soon as possible.
Applying for passports, visas and permits can take some time, so plan ahead to avoid costly delays.
Family members may need specific vaccines and there can be very strict rules regarding pets.
Find out exactly what you need with plenty of time to plan and get the specific documentation and forms together so you are prepared once you arrive.
Finding a New Home
Research different neighborhoods and price ranges to determine what location is right for you.
Decide where your children will be attending school and determine a location that will be convenient.
If you will not have a car in your new country, make sure public transportation is easily accessible from your new home.
If you are shipping your car overseas, you will want to find a new residence with ample parking available.
Your employer often has relocation specialists available for finding a new house or apartment if a new job is taking you overseas.
Talk to your human resources department to find out what resources are available.
Insurance
Each country has different insurance that is available, so determine what you will need for your family, home and cars and research what different carriers are available at your new location.
You will want to purchase property insurance, or renter’s insurance for your new home to protect your household goods and personal belongings.
You should also purchase Marine Insurance to cover your personal items while they are in transit overseas to your new home.
If you are shipping your car overseas, you can research international auto insurance policies. However, if your move is permanent, you will want to look into the insurance that is available locally.
Also, make sure to apply for your international driving permit.
You may be moving to a country with socialized healthcare, but you and your family may not be eligible for those benefits.
Verify what healthcare coverage you will need and what options are available.
Individual insurance policies can be purchased to protect you while in a foreign country and can even be less expensive than stateside coverage in some cases.
Bank Accounts and Finances
You need to alert all of your credit cards and banks of your new address.
Cancel all credit cards and bank accounts that are no longer needed.
Online international banking may be the right option for you because it is easier to transfer and manage funds between countries.
Each country has its own set of rules regarding taxes and foreign-earned income. Get all the necessary paperwork together for your specific tax obligations.
Getting Settled
Cancel all subscriptions and have all of your mail forwarded.
Many companies offer paperless billing, so try to enroll for all of those programs to alleviate missing billing statements that are not being mailed or forwarded.
Get copies of all your family members’ medical records and get extra prescription medication. Carry all prescriptions in your carry-on luggage in case your luggage gets lost in transit.
Meeting New People
New friendships take time, but there are several ways to meet new people in a new country.
Join a local gym or other organization where you will meet people with similar hobbies and interests.
If you are moving to a country where you don’t speak the native language, there are multiple websites that help expats meeting other expats through social groups and gatherings.
Expats also post forums on these websites to share their knowledge and to help out other foreigners who are moving to a new country.
You can use these same websites you are using to meet people as resources to find a good doctor, restaurants and other information that you will need in your new location.
